Mount Macedon/maʊntˈmæsədən/[2] is a small town 64 kilometres (40 mi) north-west of Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria. The town is located below the mountain of the same name, which rises to 1,001 metres (3,284 ft) AHD.[3] At the 2016 census, Mount Macedon had a population of 1,335[1] and was awarded a "favourable" score of 7.4 out of 10. Mount Macedon is best known for its collection of 19th-century gardens and associated extravagant large homes, which is considered to be one of the most important such collections in Australia.

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Mount Macedon as seen from the air 100m up on a misty spring afternoon

A wild Koala on the edge of the car park atop Mount Macedon

Mount Macedon township was largely established by Melbourne's wealthy elite in the post gold rush era of the mid to late 19th century who used it as a summer retreat. The post office opened on 18 July 1870, known as Upper Macedon until 1879 and Macedon Upper until 1936. An earlier (1843) post office (previously) named Mount Macedon is located in Kyneton. It was renamed Kyneton (post office) on 1 January 1854. Kyneton.[4]

Due to its relatively high elevation of approximately 620 metres (2,030 ft) AHD, the area experiences much cooler temperatures on average relative to nearby Melbourne. The area also receives high rainfall relative to the surrounding plains and much of the Melbourne area. This combination of geographic factors have contributed to the town's reputation as a resort town and wine region.[5]

Snowfall is a fairly regular[vague] feature on the higher elevations of the mountain, although the peak of the mountain is marginally too low for snowfalls to lie on the ground for more than a few days in most instances. Occasionally, the lower parts of the town experience snowfalls and on occasion these have been substantial.[vague]

The gardens and homes of Mount Macedon are well known for their size and scale, some of which contain collections of exotic plants that are rare in cultivation.[citation needed]

The Mount Macedon area also comprises a second important peak, the Camel's Hump or Camels Hump, rising to 1,011 metres (3,317 ft) above sea level. The volcanic trachyte rock of the crag is used by rock climbers and the mountain has become a sport climbing venue due to its proximity to Melbourne.[citation needed]

One of the major attractions of Mount Macedon is the 21-metre (69 ft) high memorial cross which stands near the summit of the mountain. This structure was established by early resident William Cameron in 1935 as a memorial to those who died in World War I.[8] The view from the summit of Mount Macedon takes in Melbourne city, the Dandenong Ranges and the You Yangs near Geelong.

Burnt paddocks and bushland at Mount Macedon after the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires

Another attraction of the Mount Macedon area is the extensive native forests which cover the mountain and surround the town. Much of the forest on Mount Macedon consists of wet sclerophyll communities which are more commonly associated with areas east of Melbourne. Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) occurs here at the western extent of its range and Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) at the northwestern extent of its range, Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) are also found on the highest peaks. A large area of the Macedon Ranges forest is included in the Macedon Regional Park, managed by Parks Victoria.[9]

Alton – a 1870s-built Venetian Gothic house. Gardens make up four hectares (9.9 acres) of the 10.5-hectare (26-acre) holding. It also has a small farm and the 1870s-built Venetian Gothic home is known as the gingerbread house. It was built by William (Willie) Lawrence Baillieu as a summer retreat early in the century, the property included a nine-tee golf course, tennis court and croquet lawn. It has an English garden influenced by noted Royal Botanic Gardens directors Baron von Mueller and W. R. Guilfoyle. The garden includes 24 National Trust recognised trees.[10]

Braemar House, 1499 Mount Macedon Road, Woodend – this heritage-listed[11] substantial two storey timber mansion on brick and stone foundations with high pitched roofs, intricate gables and asymmetric features, was constructed in 1889-90 to a design by Italian-born architect Louis Boldini. Braemar House is also historically important for its association with Clyde Girls' Grammar School, a private girls' boarding school, which operated at the site from 1918 to 1976. Clyde School became well known for its depiction in the Joan Lindsay novel Picnic at Hanging Rock (1967). This novel was concerned with an ill-fated excursion to Hanging Rock by girls from the local boarding school.

Campaspe Country House, Goldies Lane, Woodend – a former notable house convert into an upscale hotel in a 1927 Federation Arts and Crafts manor, and with its annex, that sits on 13 hectares (32 acres) of landscaped gardens and bushland

Derriweit Heights, Douglas Road, Mount Macedon, circa 1874 – the original 26-hectare (65-acre) garden was designed by Von Mueller and Guilfoyle . Derriweit Heights was the first homestead to be built near the peak of Mount Macedon by Charles Ryan (circa 1874) to capture the views over Port Phillip Bay and create a world class garden. The original home was largely destroyed by the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983. The house has been rebuilt in French Provincial style although still retaining the original coach wing. After various owners the property was purchased by Dr Paul and Mrs Anne Mulkearns in 2016. They have commenced a five-year rejuvenation plan to return the garden to its original splendour ; uncovering many of the original Derriweit garden features.

Drusilla – an imposing red brick two storey Federation Queen Anne House, was built as a residence for the Grimwade family and later became the training centre for the Marist Brothers from 1948 till 1976.

Duneira Estate and Garden – the land for historic Duneira was purchased in the early 1870s by the pastoralist Suetonius Henry Officer: four allotments in May 1872, and a fifth allotment to the north in 1877. The property boundaries remain unaltered, with the exception of some excision of land by the Country Roads Board in 1958. In the centre of the property are the stables built in 1874, the residence and servants' quarters constructed in 1875-76 and a service block to the rear built c1913, a milking shed complex and garden buildings.

Fontainebleau – originally built in the late nineteenth century, probably in Melbourne, and was moved to Mount Macedon and purchased in 1901 as a home for his family by the artist Frederick McCubbin (1855-1917). He named it after the forests near Paris where the Barbizon painters had worked. The McCubbin family lived there for five years, with McCubbin continuing to work in Melbourne but spending weekends and holidays at Fontainebleau, even after the family's move back to Melbourne in 1907.

Karori – a 2.4-hectare (6-acre) hill station property on the Southern slopes of Mount Macedon. Karori was built in 1888 as the summer retreat of Charles William Chapman, a mining and pastoral investor from New Zealand (NZ). Chapman imported many materials for the house and trees for the garden. He also brought over Italian-born and NZ-based architect Louis Boldini to design the house, which bears some resemblance to the highly decorative wooden homes found in NZ. Boldini, who designed many buildings in Dunedin in the 1880s, also designed nearby guesthouse Braemar, in which Chapman also held a financial interest.

Marnanie – entered through a long driveway under a treed canopy and is one of Mount Macedon’s Historic Homes and a hill station property. It was (possibly rebuilt as) a large gracious weatherboard Federation style home. Constructed in 1890, this was once the home of the first Australian-born Governor General, Sir Isaac Isaacs, in addition to being the primary residence of Kevin O’Neill - a prominent society florist and gardener.

Penola – a majestic 19th-century garden estate of 4.5 hectares (11.2 acres) approx on the Witch creek, established by the sister of William Guilfoyle, creator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. An historic Victorian residence of 20 rooms prefabricated in India using teak, it has a rare original billiards room, 2 grand living rooms, 8 bedrooms, 8 open fireplaces and hydronic heating. The Penola Estate has six acres of terraced gardens, stone walls, ponds, waterfall and a lawn tennis court where the owner's son Norman Brookes played prior to becoming the first Australian to win Wimbledon in 1907. Penola has views to Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne.

Sefton – a large, grand Federation Arts and Crafts styled residence of 20 beds and 18 bathrooms and has survived the many fires. Sefton was built by the Baillieu family as a summer holiday home in the early 1900s, and the 8.8-hectare English garden was laid out with the obvious influences of the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens directors Baron von Mueller and W. R. Guilfoyle.

Shepherd's Bush – a grand Victorian weatherboard summer residence built for the Wall family, located at 865 metres (2,838 ft) above sea level.[12] An 1.2-hectare (3.0-acre) garden on a four-hectare (9.9-acre) property, the residence included a tennis court and stables. The residence was destroyed on 1 February 1983,[13] but the garden lives on today, and is cared for by its current owners.[citation needed]

Timsbury – a splendid example of the hill station genre; built in 1875 in the voguish “gingerbread” style, with carved wooden latticework and decorative verandahs. For several years it has been home to businessman Tim Shaw and his doctor wife Bronwyn.

The garden Alton – across Alton Road from Hascombe, is one of the locations for the setting of the 2006 Australian film adaptation of Macbeth, mainly due to its historic residence surrounded by an English garden. The 11-hectare (26-acre) hill station property includes a 4.0 hectares (10 acres) botanical garden, a large Venetian-Gothic house built in the 1870s and a small farm, all of which is being carefully restored by the owners, the Eshuys family.

Ard Rudah – the heritage listed 140-year-old garden[14] is one of 25 gardens at Mount Macedon recognised by the National Trust for its historic significance.

Bolobek House & Garden 370 Mount Macedon Road, Macedon – heritage-listed location[15] is one of the most outstanding gardens in Australia, and participates in the Open Gardens scheme. It was developed by Joan Law-Smith,[16] and visited by royalty and many overseas dignitaries. Joan Law-Smith described her garden design for Bolobek in the book The Garden Within and authored many other garden design books.

Hascombe is a large garden owned by Linfox. It has an annual open day where all money received goes to charity. It only has two gardeners working for the whole 28-acre (11 ha) property. It has one of only two Himalayan Fir (Abies pindrow) trees in Australia, the other being located in Adelaide. It is the highest private property[citation needed] on Mount Macedon by altitude.[citation needed]

Penola, 222 Alton Road, Mount Macedon – a garden estate of 4.5 hectares (11 acres), established by the sister of William Guilfoyle, creator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

Sefton, 864 Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon – built by the Baillieu family. The eight-hectare (20-acre) English garden was laid out by Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens directors Baron von Mueller and William Guilfoyle. The Federation Arts and Crafts mansion was designed by the architects Sydney Smith and Ogg.

Shepherd's Bush, 982 Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon, a 140-year-old, 1.2-hectare (3.0-acre) garden known for its spring and autumn display.[24][25] Full of rare European and North American plants. Situated at 865 metres (2,838 ft) above sea level (highest main residence on Mount Macedon[12])

Mount Macedon has been used as a filming location by some US film production companies, due to lower costs associated with filming outside the US,[citation needed] and the architecture and horticulture of the area closely resembling places in the Northern Hemisphere with an abundance of deciduous trees.[citation needed]